Gronkowski was slow to get up and officials stopped play and the Patriots medical personnel was called onto the field. After a brief conversation on the field, Gronkowski left the game and sat on the bench.

He would miss five plays before returning.

Following the game, Gronkowski said “It was probably one of the hardest hits I have taken in my career, for sure. It was a good clean hit, just got the wind knocked out of me for a minute or two.”

Gronkowski finished the day with three catches for 56 yards and was Tom Brady’s target on the final play of the game, a fourth and goal from the one yard line. The pass fell incomplete and the Patriots lost 31-24.

Conflicting Reports

While Rapport reported that Gronkowski suffered a punctured lung, other reports indicate that the injury is not that serious, and not a punctured lung.

Being told Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has a chest injury - not a punctured lung - that is considered "not overly serious."